Switchboard



Feb. 20, 1951 E. E. w|| s 2,542,853

SWITCHBOARD Filed May 2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES: INVENTOR Feb. 20, 1951 E. E. WILLS 2,542,853

SWITCHBOARD Filed May 2, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 WITNESSES: (NVENTOR Patented Feb. 20, 1951 PATENT SWITGHBOARU- Elv n EQ- wi lsiAifi enh u ssi noie tniw stina-i house Electric Corporation Pitts lqung h H s, a.- oonm ationz Q ns lvan a-i Application May-2; 1947, Serial No; 745,409-

lz nclaims, (Cl. 1 751-2 98);

My. nvent on elat s, enerally, to; switch..-

esiidsand, mor part cularl to switqhbQaidse axe; frequently.

hene' i'li h n Q QE Q ap arat s .11 Sli k! QQWQQS;

2 .511 @159 b ange and 'fi tl l iangfi -i 92 2 39 past v m ro s attem have been. made, '42; tandard e he s tqhhsiatdi qq m i nane s ps 9. 2. ppa atusn Qbfi t f, my ent n is QQ; es sle a, standar ized: s t hbea dpan l. u it. whi h may; e in ta ed v dual y erqu nta nine y mil i i v uni s n th r object of' nven ion s t0v mvidefw he e nt hanse QQIIPPQI ergpar t u ts; i d f iz i gs thin. the ame szhhqardi assembly.

urthe obiectoi y nven ionis q ncr se he afe a wi e h arn i s ructuie- A more general object of my invention is to M nrqvide a w tehbe r tr Qt i' ich shall; be mp nd m ie n oper t q and wh h m y, ecson m y m uia tuit d ndins je ed;

Other objects of "my invention will beexpla ned. fully h tei aft t o w ll be pparen to those,

i l nthe. art

n cc r a ee w on mb ime ofgmy in:

vention, the side plates of a switchboard panel? unitare constructedto form a. verticaljduct fp'r the bus bars, to which control; apparatus; units are connected; The apparatus units; are provided with-contact members of a floating typ e*to-faci1itate the insertion-andthe-removai-ofthe units;

Mechanical interlocking is provided toprevent theremovar of a unit-whileit is conducting; current;

junction with theaccompanying drawings; in which;

Figure 1 isa view, in perspective ofa'switchboard structure embodying the prineipal features of my invention;

Fig. 2=- is a view, in front elevation; of one of the switchboard' panel units shown in Fig; 1:, the:

apparatus units being removed from the strueture;

Fig. 3:,is; a. view, partially in side; elevation and? partiallyin section, of a typical panel unit;

eimszre. ine the ele t i P93187161? u ilizine.

Eig. k is aview, partially. iniplaneand partially inzsection; ofi the panel -unit; shown; in Fig.

Fig.- fnis;,a ,view; in perspective, of; aportign; of" 1 pane structure; the. apparatus units being.v

Fi fizis anenlergedzview, in'vpenspe t ve', Qfi-Qne of the plug-ineontactunits utilized'ingthe:SW tQh:: board; stigucture, and? His)? iszen-ienlar edzvi wi in pe spect ve; f an: othee p ug. nmontaetnnit; tili ed; i i lie sw teli DQQFQZSHZ .ct

Rete i 9: the. drew nes and na ipulax yt9; E v ;i e sw t h oa z stit t ur sh yz ithen cemmz ses; weet se 0 I:1; Awh qh; aredis;

ptqsedinzside i d 1161a Thena i eq ns lozaileof ni i f I erably of hese n. ide 9 si inl ib the-d aw s, .Q l We neli eetiq s e hevi t, hpweyet wi l. e uti erstoqq hat; as

i s ei esizma b mv eiii. v i k li 1it-f3 PD,@@PQ: QiW-LEQEQ: removab ic IBDHQWQ: n he pane s etiqnsea tieu aierzeratus ni s s qwn; he P esent;

an -m tot sta in e- Qf: a yn s. t ble p co z l ine the" ne mqtp sq -rvar qusma ings- The 1. 3 TQr'd'3 i PQd n;mult ples,Oi a fixed dimension to permit thesimple eas in; ertliane nesqt un s su abl ion-c ntr l ing m tois. 0 2 di e en a in s, t o; be u der 'tq e; qwev i ha he pr e t t h alcd; tr w We ma beu ilizediqlg tup z r in leq r ea g ipparetueun ts Q i ame in ss ct o it qomnris .Q ir: ide lat s; '2; hav ng nt g al r is ns ben o, i v de awn ng. h n- 3: .17; ea y i de ate and, o. p ed a t ir -i ea busdu t A etw side ate n n z-n d an e r v ded t e r n dee a h id fplat 12 and; s i n i ei 1 nen-i ss. t t are vid ii iih fl n e L atta hine the annaita euni s I e-the, side lats,

.2:- T fineqha nel 13 ea h ideplateis partia l nel seq i w n er w ll ll armed i e mll-yt th ide Pla e t int xa i n e and a mount ng; tri :9, whieh-v max e s cured to the side plate l'2 inlany suitable, inane. ner; such as, by. spot, welding.

50 welded together to form theside members oi each 93. 1313 533 91 The wq side emb iqs tt EW ap rt .tQpIIQYidQthQ busgduct Hibetween the wells H i. the. s de members.

ua us: barsetl may be d sp sed; ver callyvin the As h n ime side pla 2: ma bebql ed 3 bus duct M. The bus bars 2| may be supported by insulating members 22 which, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4, may be attached to the inner walls ll of two of the side plates l2 by bolts 23. Insulating barriers 24 ma be attached to the flanges |8 of the side plates |2 by screws or bolts 25 on opposite sides of the bus bars 2|, thereby substantially enclosing the bus duct I4.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, main bus bars 26 may be disposed horizontally at the top of the switchboard structure. The main bus bars 26 extend through openings 21 provided in the side plates l2 and incoming power cables 28 may be secured to the main bus bars 26 in any one of the panel sections. The vertical bus bars 2| in each panel section may be bolted to the main bus bars 26, as shown in Fig. 3.

The outgoing power connections from the apparatus units in each, panel section may be made to terminal blocks 29 which are mounted on a horizontal mounting strip 3| located near the top of the panel structure. The control wiring connections may be made to additional terminal blocks 32 also mounted near the top of the panel structure. Additional Openings 33 may be provided in the side plates |2 to permit cross panel wiring between the panel sections.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, each apparatus unit comprises a semi-enclosed cabinet having a rear wall 34, partial side walls 35 and a hinged door 36. The cabinet is supported in the panel structure by channel shaped members 37, secured to the sides of the cabinet, and which slide on brackets 38 which are secured to the side plates |2. The cabinet may be retained in position by screws 39 which are inserted in the openings IS in the flanges |5 of the side plates l2.

It will be seen that the screws 39 for each cabinet are covered by the door 36 for that cabinet when the door is closed. A suitable interlocking mechanism 4|, which is actuated by a handle 42 on the door 36, is provided to prevent the door 36 from being opened while the circuit breaker in that apparatus unit is closed.' Thus, the door 36 for any unit cannot be opened to gain access to the screws 39 while the apparatus in that unit is energized. Therefore, the cabinet cannot normally be removed while the apparatus is conducting current.

A device 43, which may be actuated by a screw 44 extending through the door 36, is provided for releasing the interlocking mechanism 4| by an authorized person without operating the handle 42 to open the circuit breaker. Therefore, an additional electrical interlock 45 is provided for each cabinet to prevent the cabinet from being withdrawn while the apparatus in the cabinetis conducting current. The interlock 45 comprises a suitable switch which is actuated by a member 46 secured to the flange [8 of a side plate l2 and functions to cause the deenergization of the apparatus in a particular cabinet when that cabinet is being withdrawn from the switchboard structure. The interlock 45 functions to deenergize the apparatus before the cabinet can be withdrawn sufficiently to interrupt the power connections between the bus bars 2| and the apparatus in the cabinet.

In order to facilitate the installation of the apparatus units in the switchboard structure, plugin contact members are provided for establishing both the main power and the control connections to the individual units. As shown, fixed contact members or studs 41 are secured to the bus bars 2|. Floating contact members 48 are mounted sameness 4 in the rear wall 34 of each cabinet for engaging the fixed contact members 4'! when the cabinet is installed in the switchboard structure.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 7, each set of floating contact members 48 comprises a plurality of individual contact members 49 of a type suitable for engaging the studs 41. The individual contact members 49 are disposed between two strips 5| of insulating material which are attached to the rear wall 34 of the cabinet. Each individual contact member has a circular portion 52 which is disposed in oppositely positioned semi-circular notches in the insulating strips 5|. The diameter of the semi-circular notches may be made slightly larger than the diameter of the circular portions 52 of the contact members, thereby permitting a predetermined amount of movement of each contact member relative to the supporting strips 5|. In this manner, accurate alignment of the floating contact members 43 with the fixed contact studs 4'! is not required. Terminal studs 53 are provided on the individual contact members 49 for making the connections to the electrical apparatus in the cabinet.

As shown in Fig. 6, floating contact members 54 and 55 are provided for making the outgoing power connections to the apparatus units and also for making the control connections. Each contact member 54 comprises a plurality of contact studs 56, see Fig. 1, which are secured in an insulating block 57. The block 5? is movably mounted between insulating members 58 which may be secured to mounting strips 59 attached to the flange l8 and the vertical mounting strip i9 on the side plate l2. As shown in Fig. 6, a slot 6| may be cut in each end of the insulating block 57, and a rectangular notch 62 may be provided in one end of each insulating member 58. A rectangular projection 63, which extends into the notch 62, may be provided in the slot 6| on each end of the insulating block 51. By making the projections 63 slightly smaller than the notches 62, the insulating block 51 is permitted to move a predetermined amount relative to the supporting members 58.

The cooperating contact members 55 which engage the contact studs 56 are mounted in a manner similar to the members 54. As shown, the individual contact members are mounted in an insulating block 64 which is similar to the block 5': except being of a greater depth to accommodate the individual contact members. The blocks 64 are mounted between the insulating members 58 in the manner hereinbelore described. Thus, the apparatus units may be readily installed in the switchboard without requiring accurate alignment of the cooperating contact members.

It will be seen that each set of vertical bus bars 2| supplies power to apparatus units mounted on the front and the rear of each panel section, thereby reducing the amount of copper required for making the electrical connections to a relatively large number of apparatus units. Furthermore, the bus bars are substantially enclosed, thereby preventing contact with the bus bars when the apparatus units are bein removed or installed.

As previously explained, the apparatus units are constructed in multiples of a fixed dimension, thereby permitting the units to be readily interchanged. Thus, two of the smaller units will fit into the space of one of the larger units shown in the present drawing. It will be understood 7 additional contact members movably mounted on the apparatus units for engaging the first-named contact members when the apparatus units are connected to the bus bars.

8. In a switchboard structure, in combination, spaced side plates having integral portions bent,

inwardly and disposed to form a bus duct between the innermost portions of the plates, inturned portions of said plates at each side of the structure being disposed back-to-back and joined together to form a side member of the switch board structure, bus bars vertically disposed in said duct between said side members, apparatus units removably disposed between the outermost portions of said side plates on opposite sides of the bus bars and electrically connected to the same bus bars, brackets secured to said side plates, and supporting members on said units for slidably engaging said brackets to support said units.

9. In a switchboard structure, in combination, spaced side plates having integral portions bent inwardly and disposed to form. a bus duct be tween the innermost portions of the plates, inturned portions of said plates at each side of the structure being disposed back-to-back and joined together to form a side member of the switchboard structure, bus bars vertically disposed in said duct between said side members, apparatus units removably disposed between the outermost portions of said side plates on opposite sides of the bus bars and electricall connected to the :same bus bars, brackets secured to the inside surfaces of said side plates, and channel-shaped members on said units for slidably engaging said brackets to support said units.

10. In a switchboard structure, in combination, spaced side plates having integral portions bent inwardly and disposed to form a bus duct between the innermost portions of the plates, inturned portions of said plates at each side of the structure being disposed backto-baek and joined together to form a side member of the switchboard structure, bus bars vertically disposed in said duct between said side members, apparatus units removably disposed between the outermost portions of said side plates on opposite sides of the bus bars and electrically conneeted to the same bus bars, horizontally dis posed brackets secured to the inside surfaces of said side plates, and horizontally disposed members on said units for slidably engaging said brackets to support said units. 11. In a switchboard structure, in combination,

spaced side plates having integral portions bent inwardly and disposed to form a bus duct between the innermost portions of the plates, inturned portions of said plates at each side of the structure being disposed back-to-back and joined together to form a side member of the o switchboard structure, bus bars vertically dis posed in said duct between said side members, a plurality of apparatus units removably disposed between the outermost portions of said side plates on opposite sides of the bus bars, each unit comprising a cabinet having a rear wall, flanged side walls and a door hinged to one of the side walls, horizontally disposed brackets secured to the inside surfaces of said side plates, horizontally disposed members secured to the side walls of said cabinets for slidably engaging said brackets to support said units, and contact means supported by the rear walls of said cabinets for electrically connecting the apparatus units to the same bus bars.

12. In a switchboard structure, in combination, spaced side plates having integral portions bent inwardly and disposed to form a bus duct between the innermost portions of the plates, inturned portions of said plates at each side of the structure being disposed back-to-back and joined together to form a side member of the switchboard structure, bus bars vertically disposed in said duct between said side members, a plurality of apparatus units removably disposed between the outermost portions of said side plates on opposite sides of the bus bars, each unit comprising a cabinet having a rear wall, flanged side walls and a door hinged to one of the side walls, horizontally disposed brackets secured to the inside surfaces of said side plates, horizontally disposed members secured to the side walls of said cabinet for slidably engaging said brackets to support said units, contact members secured to opposite sides of said bus bars, and contact members movably mounted on the rear walls of said cabinets for engaging the contact members on the bus bars.

ERVIN E. WILLS.

REFERENCES CITED Ihe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,217,398 Bon-nell Feb. 27, 1917 1,379,767 Krantz May 31, 1921 1,418,171 Raettig May 30, 1922 1,912,610 Widmer June 6, 1933 2,077,160 Wilson Apr. 13, 1937 2,103,325 Frank Dec. 28, 1937 2,191,637 Wier Feb. 2'7, 1940 2,227,993 Anderson Jan. 7, 1941 2,262,067 Togesen Nov. 11, 1941 2,319,415 Lightfoot May 18, 1943 2,359,247 Rowe Sept. 26, 1944 2,407,142 Cole Sept. 3, 1946 2,430,159 Chenier Nov. 4, 1947 2,435,113 Adam Jan. 27, 1948 

